How to create petri-dish FX

This article was first published in the August 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online

Special FX artist Joe Schenkenberg specialises in using household objects to create high wow-factor visuals, such as warp-speed patterns with steel wool. He shares tips via a YouTube series, Shanks FX. Here's his "atmospheric worlds in a Petri dish".

What you need

Milk

Food colouring

Petri dish

Two pocket lights

Washing-up liquid

C-stand

Camera

This article was first published in the August 2015 issue of WIRED magazine